Can body blank and can unit made therefrom



Se t. 2, 1969 A. M. KOBLISH 3,464,533

CAN BODY BLANK AND CAN UNIT MADE THEREFROM Filed Sept. 7, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PRIOR I72 T Fig! 5,.- gamwjzg/ijm fipi- 1969 A. M. KOBLISH 3,

CAN BODY BLANK AND CAN UNIT MADE THEREFROM Filed Sept. 7, 1.957 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 [)7 lffirlf/oi ARTHUR H KOBL/SH gm Tag mm tates U.S. Cl. 220-77 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE This invention is related to a can body and particularly to the body blank configuration from which such can bodies are formed. The present can body blank is of conventional configuration on the overlap hook or notch side but includes in the other or incision side of the body blank two generally trapezoidal-shaped cut out areas. Cans formed from such body blank construction may be more accurately and easily flanged and accordingly present more desirable appearances. Such cans also present shorter lengths of raw metal edge exposed to the product contained therein and accordingly reduce iron pick-up which is often harmful to the flavor of canned beverages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The field of the invention is that of metal cans, and particularly metal can body blanks of a novel configuration, and the cans made therefrom. The invention relates to can bodies having a side seam which is formed by creating two hooks, namely the overlap hook and incision hook, (sometimes called the outside and inside hooks), and to the consrtuction of a can body in which the body blank is made from a novel pattern and then formed into a cylindrical can body of novel construction, by hammering the hooks together to form an improved side seam. For reasons which will be referred to in greater detail herein, the entire side seam is not joined by such hooks, but the upper and lower portions of the body contain various slits and cutouts so that the number of thicknesses of metal gradually diminishes from 4, where 2 hooks are present, to 3 where portions of one hook are absent, to 2 thicknesses in the so-called lap area and, finally, one thickness of metal where the outside of the body blank is notched.

Description of the prior art Prior art metal can bodies having soldered side seams are of substantially standard construction and have been in use for many years. A typical body includes at one side thereof, top and bottom notches formed, respectively, by an angular sliver notch, an overlap hook notch parallel to the side seam to be formed, and a hook end out which extends transversely outwardly therefrom a length equal to the desired overlap hook. The portion of the body remaining after the notch is cut out and which is below the sliver notch and inside of the overlap hook notch is the notch lap area. In the present invention, this side of the body blank remains the same as a prior art bloody blank.

In the prior art, the other side of the body blank, known as an incision hook or slit hook side, contains only two cuts extending transversely of the side seam, spaced downwardly and upwardly, respectively, from the top and bottom ends of the blank a given distance which was somewhat greater than to the distance from the top and bottom ends of the blank a given distance which was somewhat greater than to the distance from the top of the blank to the hook end cut on the overlap hook side of the blank.

3,464,583 Patented Sept. 2, 1969 Thus, the incision or slit hook was formed by bending the portion of the blank inside the two slits upwardly to form a hook, leaving the remainder of a blank to form a so-called incision side lap area. In other words, whereas two distinct areas were cut out of the overlap hook side of the blank, no actual cutouts were made on the incision side of the blank. The incisions merely served to define that portion of the blank which would form the hook on and to the construction of a can body in which the body the incision side of the blank.

However, in these constructions, the incision side lap area presented a surface of a greater length to the contents of the can since the lap area had a certain inward extent as well as an upward extent. Since the lap area extended inwardly it was necessary that solder flow inwardly of the seam that distance, in order to cover the raw edge presented to the contents.

In addition, there was a double thickness of can metal from the lap area to the top of the can body, except where the sliver notch extended. Accordingly, cans made of this construction have always been sensitive to iron pickup by the can contents if soldering has not been perfect. With high speed can operations today, it is less likely that soldering conditions will always be as good as those which must prevail to coat the inside raw metal edges of such a container.

In addition, because of the extra overlap of metal in the incision lap area, the flanging of the can was not as accurately defined as it might be, and double seaming commonly left a noticeable bump or projection in the end double seam over the body side seam, where the additional thickness of metal was present.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, there has been a demand for a can body blank and can body which would have a configuration different from that of prior art can bodies, thereby enabling the can to possess the advantages of easy and accurate fianging, easy body hook formation and less raw material edge exposure to the product.

Another object is to provide an improved body blank with a trapezoidal incision hook side cutout area.

A still further object is to provide a novel body blank whichcan be used on standard can making equipment with a minimum of alteration.

The present invention accomplishes these and other objects, including those inherent therein, by providing a can body blank which includes, on one side thereof, top and bottom incision hook cutout areas of a generally trapezoidal shape, defined respectively by upper and lower transverse cut lines extending laterally inwardly of the blank, upper and lower longitudinal cuts parallel to the side seam and extending toward the center of the blank, and upper and lower inner angular incision hook cut lines extending from the longitudinal cut laterally outwardly and longitudinally inwardly of the body blank to the side edge of the body blank.

The manner in which these objects and advantages are attained will be more clearly understood when considered in conjunction with a description of the preferred embodiment of the invention contained in the following specification and claims, and as shown in the drawings below, in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a can body blank of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a body blank made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing a portion of an unflanged can body made with a body blank according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of another part of an unflanged can body made with a body blank according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a portion of a flanged can body made according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a part of the can body of FIG. 5, taken along lines 66 thereof;

FIG. 7 is a view of a portion of the novel side seam of a can body, taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view, taken along lines 88 of FIG. 7, showing a portion of the side seam thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the invention in greater detail, the body blank shown in FIG. 2 is best understood when contrasted to the body blank 20 shown in FIG. 1, which represents a conventional prior art body blank. FIG. 2 shows a new body blank 22, and this blank is seen to comprise an upper half 24 and a lower half 26, it being understood that the upper and lower halves 24, 26 are mirror images of each other. Thus, body blanks, both those of the prior art 20, and those according to the present invention 22, have planes of symmetry P, P respectively, but the bodies are not otherwise symmetrical.

Referring now to prior art body blanks, it is customary for such blank to have, referring to the upper righthand corner thereof, an upper edge 28, a diagonal sliver notch 30, an overlap hook notch 32 and a hook end cut 34, as well as a side edge 36. The area defined by the side edge 36 and the upper and lower hook end cuts 34, 34a is referred to as the overlap hook or the outside hook 38.

The left side of the blank 20 includes an incision side lap area 40 defined by the upper edge 28, the left side edge 42 and the slit or incision 44. The area defined by the upper and lower incisions 44, and the left side edge 42 is known as the incision hook or slit hook 46, and this area forms, when the can body is assembled, an incision side or inside body hook 46 for engaging the outside hook 38.

Thus, when the body is formed from a prior art body blank 15, two interlocking hooks, the incision hook 46 and overlap or outside hook 38, combine to hold the can side seam together and there are four thicknesses of metal where these areas overlap, since the hook areas 38, 46 are folded back on themselves, forming a double thickness for each half of the seam.

In the areas which respectively extend upwardly and downwardly (as in FIG. 1) from the slits or incisions 44, 44a, and which are overlapped by the areas just inwardly of the hook end cuts 34, 34a, when the hooks 38, 46 are engaged, there are three thicknesses of metal, since the outside hook 34 is doubly folded in that area, but the incision hook side is not folded there. These areas are shown at 48, 48a on FIG. 1 and account for the so called chip angle or pack angle area in which the side seam metal thickness diminishes from four thicknesses to three thicknesses.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the novel body blank of the present invention is shown, and this body blank has an upper half 24, a lower half 26, each of which is a mirror image of the other, the blank thus having a plane of symmetry about the lines P, P.

The right hand portions of this blank 22 are similar to the right hand portions of the upper blank 20, that is, it possesses upper and lower edges 28, 28a, sliver notches 30, 30a, overlap hook notches 32, 32a, hook end cuts 34, 34a, and a side edge 36, the cuts 34, 34a in the edge 36 combining to define an outside hook 38. However the novel body blank of the present invention has a different structure on the left hand side thereof, that is, in place of the incisions or slits 44, upper and lower trapezoidal incision hook cutout areas 50, 50a are formed, and an incision hook area 52 of a different size and shape is formed. Thus, referring to the left hand upper and lower corners of the body blank in FIG. 2, the incision side lap area 40b, 40c is shown to be defined by an upper and lower edges 28b, 28c, side edges 54, 54a, and upper and lower transverse cut lines 56, 56a. The incision or slit hook 52 is defined by an incision hook area side edge 58, and upper and lower, angular incision hook cuts 60, 60a. Upper and lower longitudinal cut lines 62, 62a connect the inner ends respectively of the lines 56, 60, 56a, 60a to form the third side of the trapezoidal area 50, 50a. The fold line along which the incision hook is ultimately folded in a continuation of the lines 62, 62a and is shown as a broken line 64 in FIG. 2.

In manufacturing can bodies, both body blanks 20, 22, are folded in the same manner, and this method is well known and highly standardized in the can industry.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 6, it will be seen that FIG. 3 shows a portion of a cylindrical body B in which the upper edge 28 extends around the can body, the sliver notch 30 falls on the outside of the body and a fold line 66 is presented to the outside of the can. It will be seen that the fold line 66 extends straight downwardly from the bottom portion of the sliver notch, since the outside or flange hook portion of the body shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been folded inwardly. The uppermost portion of the fold line 66 is the overlap hook notch 32, since the fold line 66 is a continuation of this cut or notch 32.

FIG. 4 shows the incision side lap area 40, and the side edge 54, as well as the out line 62 which terminates in the fold line 64, which in turn defines the incision hook or slit hook of the blank and the inside hook of the can body.

FIG. 5 shows the body after a flange 68 has been imparted thereto, and it can be seen here that the edge 54 of the lap area 40 overlies the flange 68 near the top thereof, and that the transverse out line 56 lies on the radius of the flange 68. Thus, a certain portion of the cut line 62 also lies on a portion of the radius of the flange 68. The inside fold line 64 continues vertically down the side wall portion of the can body B. Thus, the cut 62 exposes metal to the inside of the can body, but the portion of the seam where the fold line 64 exists does not present a raw metal edge since it is folded over.

FIG. 6 shows that when the flange 68 has been folded over to form a body hook 70, and an end member E has been seamed onto the body B, that the lap area 40 covers the body hook 70 of the can body from the lower edge 72 thereof to the midpoint 74 of the body hook radius. Thus, the inner edge surface of the lap 40 is formed by the transverse out line 56. Sealing compound or compound liner C seals the seam which is formed by the junction of the body hook and the end hook.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the upper edge 28 of the lap area 40 is shown to overlie the area of the blank from which the sliver notch 30 is formed. In addition, the incision hook 52 terminates at its inner edge 58 and at the upper edge theref at the angular cut line 60. The outside hook 38 is defined by the fold line 66, the edge 36 and the hook end cut 34.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the fold lines 64, 66 for the inner and outer hooks respectively are shown, as are the end surfaces provided by the hook end cut 34 and the diagonal out line 60. FIG. 8 shows the seam without solder, but it will be understood that in practice, the spaces between the hooks 38, 52 are first hammered into close proximity, and then filled with solder to provide a gas and liquid tight seal and to add strength as well as to cover any raw metal edges which may be exposed to the product. The combination of the solder and the flux create a wetting action by the solder on the metal of the can body, and the molten solder, by a combination of mechanical and capillary action, completely fills the space between the hooks 38, 46, and create a fillet or bead in the area 82 inside the can body and under the fold line 64 along a part of the body B (FIG. 8).

Although the exact dimensions used with the can body blank of the present invention are not critical, an ordinary 12 oz. beer can will have the dimensions set forth below and shown of FIGS. 1 and 2. The width of the sliver notch (dimension F) is 0.160 inch, the height thereof, G, is 0.125 inch, the width of the hook end cut, H, is 0.090 inch, and the height of the entire notch area I is 0.218 inch. The incision or slit 44 is generally spaced down- Wardly from the upper edge 28 a distance of 0.281 inch (J), and is 0.090 inch long (K).

In the novel body blank, the dimensions on the sliver notch side are the same, and the transverse cut lines 56, 56a are also 0.090 inch in length, but the side edges 54, 54a of the lap area 4011, 400 are 0.080 inch (L), and the bottom end of the longitudinal out line 62 is 0.160 inch (M) from the top edge 28 of the blank, whereas the distance between the junction of the edge 58 and the angular cut lines 60, 6041 from the edges 23b, 28c is 0.218 inch (N).

As stated above, these dimensions are preferred, but may vary somewhat depending on the size of the can, thickness of metal from which it is made, and other factors.

Since the manner in which the side seam is hammered, the manner in which it is soldered and the number and style of crossbar impressions which are used to keep the body hooks from sliding longitudinally with respect to each other are well known in the can art and are merely a matter of preference, they form no necessary part of the invention and are not further described here.

Using cans made according to the present invention, the requirement for precise soldering conditions is not as great as with conventional can blanks since when the can body is formed, the longitudinal cut 62 falls along the fold line of the fold line 64 of the body hook and is closer to the joint or opening where the solder enters the side seam, whereas in the older construction, this edge 42 must also be covered with solder, but it is located 0.090 inch inwardly from the fold line creating incision hook 46. As to the raw metal edges 54, 56, it can be seen from FIG. 6 that these edges are not exposed to the contents of the can since they are protected and covered by the double seam formed between the body hook and the end hook of the can end or cover.

Although the specification and claims herein are directed to a can body blank which has a laterally extending plane of symmetry extending therethrough, it is understood that it is possible to make a can body in which the upper portion of the body would be constructed with the novel trapezoidal cutout area, and the lower portion would have a conventional slit only. It is considered that such a can body blank would fall within the scope of the present invention, although the described embodiment utilizes identical upper and lower corner and edge constructions.

Likewise, although a cylindrical can body is shown, it is understood that eliptical bodies, oval or generally rectangular (F) can bodies and other can body shapes may advantageously utilize the novel body blank and will result in the novel side seam described herein.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a new and improved can body blank and can unit made therefrom having a number of novel advantages and characteristics, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent therein.

I claim:

1. A can body unit formed of a can body blank having its two sides joined together to form a side seam, one of said sides including, at the outer ends thereof, top and bottom rectangular incision side lap areas, upper and lower longitudinal edges extending inwardly of the body from said lap areas, and an isosceles trapezoidal-shaped inside hook defined by two angular cut edges, a central longitudinal edge portion of the said one side, and a fold line which is a continuation of said longitudinal edges, and the other of said sides including, at the outer ends thereof, a diagonal sliver cut, a longitudinally extending overlap hook notch, and a rectangular outside hook defined by the two hook notch cuts, a first side edge, and a fold line which is a continuation of an edge of said overlap hook notch, said inside and outside hooks being interlocked with each other.

2. A can body unit as defined in claim 1 in which said junction of said angular cut edges and said central longitudinal edge portion are substantially laterally aligned with the inner ends of said overlap hook notches.

3. A can body unit as defined in claim 1 in which said side seam also includes a metallic solder filling said side seam sufiiciently to cause said side seam to be liquid tight.

4. A can body unit as defined in claim 1 in which said side seam also includes a thermoplastic adhesive filling said side seam sufficiently to cause said side seam to be liquid tight.

5. A can body unit as defined in claim 1 in which the upper and lower ends of said can body are formed into body hooks for engagement with the hook portions of top and bottom can ends, and in which said rectangular incision side lap areas lie substantially entirely within the body hook and body hook radius portions of said can body.

6. A can body unit as defined in claim 1 in which said can body is cylindrical in cross section.

7. A can body unit as defined in claim 1 in which said can body has a cross section comprising two relatively longer sides and two relatively shorter sides, each of said longer sides being joined to said shorter sides by a smooth curve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1919 Hodgson 22067 8/1939 Hopkins 22077 X U.S. Cl. X.R. 113120 

